Comments about ‘Writers ponder Mormonism's 'theological weirdness'’

I am not surprised by the twisted fixation of the media on supposed "weirdness", when our same media serves up daily the dregs and weirdo's of society on hundreds of channels and acts like these are the "normal" people. Combine that with the hatred many have for religious values, and the oft-repeated lie that "religion is the source of all wars and conflict" (Hitler, Mao, Stalin and Pol Pot killed more than all the religious wars combined).

I am not surprised that our national media cannot reasonably interpret Mid-Eastern Islam when they cannot understand an American-born religion, with adherents that speak English.

Finally, I am appalled that the same language that would constitute "hate speech" when applied to the LGBT crowd is applauded when applied to a religious population.

In preface to my comments let me suggest that the Obama administration and the socially progressive media is the epitome of, let me say, Intellectual Weirdness. It could only be the influence of some unnatural influences that would compel this movement to obsessively focus on theology and the Pres. George W. Bush administration for the negative effects of what the last 70 years of progressive intellectual weirdness has done to this country to which Intellectual weirdness ascribe.

Progressively inclined intellectuals should be running over themselves to support an individual or group that is founded on The 10 commandments. What a less weird world this would be if they and everybody did.

Truly understanding even a single theological point in most religions requires much more thought, study, and correlation with other doctrines than many critics, and certainly most media personalities, are willing to expend.

I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the LDS Church, but before this political season I had never before heard the concept that "Mormons believe that when they die, they get their own planet." I've heard this several times recently (ranging from Bill Maher to Anne Coulter to Memphis News), and wonder if there is a single active LDS person who believes he or she will get a planet when he or she dies.

It's just so much easier, and apparently more fun and entertaining, to create a false and mocking caricature than to engage in a truthful discussion of the foundations and rationale of belief. After all, how many viewers/readers would they lose if they expounded on a concept like eternal progression? Maybe not as many as they think. To instead joke about getting planets is not only shamefully dishonest, but rather insulting to their readers and viewers.

Personally, I'd rather spend more of my time learning about my own faith. Examining how other people view my beliefs holds far less value to me.

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On another note- some frequent liberals we all know come on here and like to pronounce how they know for sure that Obama's campaign was not referring to Romney's religion with the 'weird' comment.

By their own logic, I can call anyone weird and not be accused of referring to their race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other classifier that may be used to accuse me. Because the second I start saying that I think Harvey Milk is weird, or Obama in the White House is a weird concept, or any other thing of the sort... no such prejudice can be accused from liberals. Because of course... Liberals aren't prejudice, only conservatives are? Just some food for thought. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe everyone on here will disagree with me. Fine, I welcome it. The only thing I demand in return is that every time I use the term weird from now on, no one dares to accuse me of using the term as a prejudicial statement. Anything less is a double standard.

'Because the second I start saying that I think Harvey Milk is weird, or Obama in the White House is a weird concept, or any other thing of the sort... no such prejudice can be accused from liberals.' - A voice of Reason | 4:47 p.m. Dec. 6, 2011

Gee.

That's really funny!

Harvey Milk. Shot and killed on 11/27/78 By Daniel White.
Charges? Manslaughter.
Not murder.

*'Details unfold in shots fired at White House' - By Jessica Gresko - AP - Published by DSNews - 11/17/11

since BOTH of your examples...

were shot at.

Want another?

*'Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in Arizona, was on Palins infamous target map' - by Xeni Jardin - Boingboing - 01/08/11

Free speech, is protected.

Violent rhetoric, can lead to violence.

I will never understand this 'persecution' mentality purpetuated.

That if I call myself 'weird'...

then it becomes socially accpetable to MAKE UP any accusation to support my point.

As:

*'President Obama's purported 'weird'-Mormon strategy against Mitt Romney will backfire, pundits say' - By Hal Boyd, Deseret News - 08/10/11

*'Trump on Obama's Birth Certificate: 'Maybe It Says He's a Muslim' - Fox Nation - 03/30/11

The thing is... even if we grant the idea that Mormonism is weird... who cares? It's not like belief in a Nephite civilization existing does anything to change foreign policy views. It doesn't impact job creation. It's not going to affect the energy crisis or any of that other stuff.

Get over this stuff. You wanna have the 'moment' and play in the big league to get the political power? There will always be detractors. Faith means you don't have to get all defensive everytime someone calls you weird.

President Hinckley worked hard with the media to get our mainstream message out to the world. Mike Wallace and Larry King never took swipes at the LDS Church.
This is all political vindictiveness and a shameful effort at that.
Substitute "Muslim" for "Mormon" in this critique and our PC world would be up-in-arms about it.
There is a certain amount of mystique in all of Judeo-Christian tradition. Angels, chariots in the air, burning bushes, tamed lions, multiplied loaves of bread, water to wine, raising the dead...Shall these critics attack all Biblical traditions?

The left wing media is quick to attack any religious aspect of American life. Mormonism is not immune to this attack.

This left wing media is not interested in a genuine attempt to understand the LDS Church, it is only interested in attacking it. In doing so, it is not above using misdirection and half-truths.

A reeligious people is less likely to fall for left wing propoganda. That is why the left is so determined to attack religion from every possible angle.

@DSB, you're right. I've been going to LDS meetings and classes since I was three, and never once did I ever hear anyone say, " . . . and if you're good boys and girls, someday you'll get your own planet."

History has shown that when a religious organization grows too large or too fast for the comfort of a non believing society, the suppression tools of choice have always been deceit, mockery and extermination.

Mormonism has been the victim of all three for almost 200 years, and yet the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints continues to increase its membership faster than most of the world's religions.

What is it that LDS coverts have come to understand that detractors haven't been able to grasp?

Pagan,

How about we say NO ONE is weird?? I don't get your logic - if it's wrong for one group (or person) then it's wrong for all.

You seem to be saying since some are prejudiced towards one side, that it's OK for that side to give it back in spades.

My point, is it's not right for either.

No on the planet thing, as if anyone in the national media cares.

"continues to increase its membership faster than most of the world's religions."

Uh, well, you have 60,000 missionaries around the world selling Mormonism.

Think that just might play a role?

Good for Huntsman!

I think that Mormons who really explore this issue will find that it's usually other religious people who make such a fuss over their "theological weirdness". The non-religious seem content to agree that most people are not "normal" in some way or another. Certainly, the prospects of a well-spoken Mormon in the White House are no more terrifying than a bumbling evangelical.

To: JoeBlow | 7:52 p.m. Dec. 6, 2011 Miami Area, Fl - I am not quite sure what you mean by Mormon missionaries going around selling Mormonism? While I am not of the LDS faith, my experience over the years is that they are doing anything but selling religion. In my experience I have never been asked to buy anything. They simply have a doctrine to share. It is then left up to the individual to decide if this works for them or not. No obligation, no sale. As for members of the this faith that I associate with on a professional level, they are anything but weird and tend to have a higher degree of moral ethics and behavior. So if there is a "sales" job going on I have not experienced it. Just my 2 cents from a non-LDS observer.

To the Deuce: I want to just say thank you for your insights into what the Missionaries do. To Joe Blow: The missionaries have never tried to force, sell or ensure their message is received. They have had more doors slammed in their face, spit upon and even ridiculed by those who state they are Christian.

All one has to do is say no we have our own religion and kindly shut the door. There is no need for anyone to invite them in to prove them wrong, spit on them or slam doors in their face. All of these are rude and disrespectful.

Generally these missionaries are 19-25 year olds. They have sacrificed 1 1/2 - 2 years of their life to do what they are doing. Many will return to college and finish. Some will ultimately fall away. However, the majority will continue in the faith. They will do all that they can do and be good members of society.

eastcoastcoug,

I'm glad you said what you did. I really should clarify. I don't want to call anyone weird. I merely wanted to make the point that some are willing to ignore what the Obama campaign did, but that in reversed circumstances a torrent of outrage would ensue.

Harvey Milk, Obama, and anyone else in the public eye at any time... are all people I do not know. I am not qualified to consider them weird or not weird. And even more importantly, even if I did know them I would not be in any place to still assign them such a label.

The reason I mentioned Obama's comment to begin with was only in anticipation of the frequent "weird didn't refer to religion" arguments we find on here. I don't presume that it even did. I only challenge that Obama should have made an effort, and a firm one, to clarify. That a lack of this clarification again does not prove anything. Again, just that I believe it would not have been accepted by most of the liberal audience with the situation somehow reversed.

Pagan, I don't condone his murder, or even disrespecting him - what's your point?

"Selling Mormonism" treats the religion as a commodity, to be sold, traded, and such.

Some televangelists have notoriously done this. Most of the religious world has even condemned such practices.

But someone believing in something, or seeing it, etc... then choosing willfully to try to persuade others of the validity of that experience, etc. does not equate to selling. Yes, a teacher might be said to try to sell his views to the students on a particular discipline. But I believe that sell is entirely the wrong word and suggests a less that admirable intent from the person(s) in question. It would be better to say that someone is going around trying to convince, persuade, teach, or even just speak of something. These are more accurate identifiers... Saying that missionaries are salesmen is just as 'pitching' of an idea (or sale) as what one might say the missionaries are doing.

If missionaries are salesmen, then we all are. Who hasn't tried saying or standing for what they think is right or wrong at some point in their life?